This year’s lent will be filled with passion music again. I’m thankful to be part of three different productions, albeit only streamed.
Bach’s St. John Passion from the dome of Ratzeburg (photo)
Reinhard Keiser’s Brockes-Passion from the Concertgebouw Amsterdam (Netherlands Bach Society)
Bach’s St. Matthew Passion from the Concertgebouw Amsterdam (Collegium Vocale Gent)
Combo CAM proudly presents our new album Lorem Ipsum, containing not only Italian, South American and sephardic music, but also little words of wisdom..
Released on the 5th of February 2021 with the German label Genuin Classics.
The first lockdown created space for ideas and creative work. Sjaella developed a new CD program. In search of composers we came across Paola Prestini - out of this virtual encounter grew a close collaboration that can be heard on the new album ‘Con Alma’ by Paola Prestini and the Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera, released on the 4th of December with National Sawdust Tracks. They brought together musicians from all over the world during the pandemic - including us!
Learn more about the album and the virtual release event here:
Sjaella was part of a production about the exceptional woman Cato Bontjes van Beek. She resisted and fought the NS regime and was executed in 1943. Her strongest weapon? Love. Her strongest believe? Love. Her hope for the world? Love.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of her birth we recorded a documental movie with live music (by Helge Burggrabe, Bach, Purcell) and readings by Julia Jentsch.
TRAILER:
I am sad to announce that my first tour as soloist with The Netherlands Bach Society under Shunske Sato had to be cancelled. Silent Passion time - silent Easter time - silent Christmas time.
Because of the ‘lockdown light’ in Germany, all my concerts in November are cancelled or postponed.
But before that period of silence I had the pleasure to sing my first Brahms Requiem last night at St. Quirinus in Neuss!
Music survives any crisis.
I’m looking forward to performing my first song recital with the fantastic Dutch pianist Jaap Kooi coming Saturday at De MuziekHaven Zaandam, as part of the Jubilieumweekend “Grand Finale” of Stichling De Muziekkamer Zaandam.
We will perform songs by Aaron Copland, John Cage, George Crumb and Leonard Bernstein.
More information here
“For love of our brothers and our friends, I will say: Peace upon you!”
Listen to Sjaella’s new video recording of “Piece upon you, Jerusalem” by Arvo Pärt, recorded in the Nikolaikirche Leipzig.
I’m glad to have been part of the digital Bach-Marathon 2020, a wonderful alternative concept to the Bachfest Leipzig.
Find my two performances here.
- warm-up with Bach chorales, Sjaella and organist David Timm
- Bach solo cantatas Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten & Non sa che sia dolore,
Viola Blache and camerate bachiensis
You can also listen to a broadcast of the solo cantatas by German radio MDR Kultur.
I will also be part of a digital version of the Musikfest ION, the live-stream-festival NAH BEI DIR.
The music will include pieces by J.P. Krieger, Claudio Monteverdi, J.S. Bach and David Lang.
For more information click here.
Things are happening.. I believe we can make the best of the current situation and that it is art’s responsibility to find its ways to the people in any given circumstances!
I will be performing with Sjaella at the digital Moers-Festival, live-streamed on Arte Concert on the 31st of May at 17:50pm!!
find more information here.
Due to the spread of the Corona virus and the taken measures, most concerts until summer 2020 are cancelled. We don’t know when we will be able to perform again. You can find all up-to-date information in my calendar.
For information about Sjaella concerts click here.
Stay informed, stay healthy, stay home.
There is some positive news.
I’m glad to announce the release of a CD with unique passion music by Christoph Graupner.
Christoph Graupner - Das Leiden Jesu, Passionskantaten Vol. 4
Ensemble Ex Tempore
Baroque Orchestra Mannheimer Hofkapelle
Florian Heyerick, direction
Viola Blache, soprano
Franz Vitzthum, alto
Daniel Schreiber, tenor
Dominik Wörner, bass
released in march 2020, Cpo Label
Find more information here.
